Find Inspiration

Many of our customers search for local services, so we’re working to make your search a little easier. With Plumbs offering a local Home Consultancy service and we often use local upholsterers across the UK, we’ve teamed up with other local businesses to bring you the best services close to you.

Our new website, Re-upholstery Oxford, for example, explains Plumbs service in the Oxford area, as well as highlighting a number of local upholstery cleaners to help keep your transformed furniture looking at its best.

Click here to find your local Home Consultant and stay tuned for more news of Plumbs services in your area.

Some of you may say modern, others will say contemporary, but which is technically correct? Like many of you, I find it difficult to distinguish between the two design terms, so we’ve put together a quick guide for getting your design lingo the right way round!

Common Features

One of the main reasons why it’s so hard to tell apart what’s ‘modern’ and what’s ‘contemporary’ is that they do share some common features. Clean, straight lines with industrial materials and a neutral palette can be found in both design movements.

Key Features of ‘Modern’ Home Design

'Modern' design originated in the 1920’s and sought to transform the more detailed shapes of earlier design periods into simpler, abstract pieces. A key aim of modern design is to highlight simple form and function, meaning streamlined, uncomplicated furniture.

In keeping with the simpler design idea, 'Modern' interiors often come with large bare walls, creating the ideal backdrop for showcasing vibrant artwork and accessories. Geometric patterns in textiles, and natural materials such as leather and teak woods, feature heavily in 'Modern' design.

Key Features of ‘Contemporary’ Design

Unlike ‘Modern’ design, ‘Contemporary’ design is an ever-changing movement, depending on what’s current. At the moment, 'Contemporary' design is interested in reinterpreting more conventional styles, again opting for more linear, cleaner designs.

It is in 'Contemporary' design where you are likely to find more minimalist interiors, concentrating on the bar essentials needed for that room. 'Contemporary' design often combines calm palettes and sleek finishes with edgier textures and pops of bright accents colours. Polished marble, chrome and gloss surfaces are present in current 'Contemporary' homes.

In summary, 'Modern' design emanates a retro feel, whereas 'Contemporary' design can seem more futuristic in its styling. So, looking again at our original image – is this modern or contemporary? We’ll let you decide.

It can be difficult to know how to arrange your furniture. Do you follow latest trends, give Feng Shui a go, or do whatever works for you? I would always go for the latter, but at the same time I’d need to know my room had a specific focus; a spot or area that draws the eye and brings the whole look together.

Once you’ve decided on a focal point, the rest should come easy. You can harmoniously arrange the rest of your furniture around that one point. Simple! All you need to do is figure out your focal point, and how to best enhance it.

Architectural Focal Point

For some, you may be lucky enough to have some significant architectural feature that lends itself as an obvious choice. This could be a fireplace, an interesting alcove or even large windows. Bay windows are particularly striking as a focal point. They can be dressed elaborated and your main furniture positioned to accentuate the feature. The light will also illuminate your furniture, creating a feeling of space.

Social Focal Point

Often the living room is the hub of the home, a place to relax and enjoy time socially with family and friends. If this most suits your lifestyle, you may choose to make the social area your focal point. Mixing fabrics and furniture styles can bring great interest to socially clustered furniture.

Feature Wall Focal Point

You can create a stunning focal point in even the simplest of rooms by creating a feature wall. A popular trends with designers and home-owners alike, there is a whole wealth of beautiful wallpaper designs for such a purpose. Innovative paint designs and wall decals also give great effects.

How do you like to create focal points in your home? Drop us a comment – we’d love to know!

While your tucking into your pancakes today, whether they’re savoury or sweet, spare a thought for the delicious texture and colour combinations that you’ve created! Remember, you can take inspiration from all areas of life for decorating your home, and yes, that even includes Pancake Day!! A luxury treat like this can pave the way to an equally luxurious home. See how we’ve brought these scrumptious golden tones together to create a beautiful room set for decadent fabric ‘Luxury Ravello’.

Why not try it yourself, or browse our fabric range for more inspiration.

If you haven’t seen our new reupholstery TV ad yet, fear not, you still have 3 more weeks to try to catch it on your favourites channels. The new campaign launched last week on popular channels like ITV3, Home and Channel 4 North and South.

Our newest campaign focuses on the skilled craftsmanship of our upholsterers. The advert includes a sequence of the reupholstery process from stripping down the original furniture, to frame repair, and fitting of new springs, cushions and fabric.

We even cast a real-life upholsterer to play the leading role! Mick Delaney has worked for us for over 30 years and is no stranger to the lime-light. Last year he took to the road to join the Plumbs exhibition team in demonstrating his upholstering techniques live across the UK. (
Click here to see this year’s event list!)

The chosen fabric for the ad was a new member to our beautiful range ‘New Sunset Rose’. We wanted to really go to town with showing you a complete co-ordinated look, so teamed this fabric with Ayre curtains, Perdita blinds and Bijoux Crushed Velvet reupholstered footstool:

If you simply cannot wait to see the ad in action, click here to watch it online!

If you're feeling the love this Valentines Day (or even if you're not), why not take inspiration from all the holiday has to offer! Think roses are red, chocolates are brown and therein lies a beautifully rich colour scheme for a decadent living room. You can also look to Valentines for accessories and ornamental inspiration! Hearts are hot designs on the high street and can be used in so many different ways around the house, as we found out in last week's post:
'Show Your Home Some Love'.

So, spare a thought this February for how you can create a room you can really fall in love with! We've scoured the high street and online stores to give you an idea of what could be achieved with St Valentine in mind...

We've all heard the saying less is more, so why not adapt it to your home decor. This beautifully simple, white hallway shows us exactly how to make a statement without the fuss! Don't be afraid to choose a blank palette, but take care in choosing your accessories, as these will stand out against the white backdrop. The use of silver here gives the room enough sparkle, while the natural colours and materials keep us down to earth.

It’s the start of February and love is in the air – or at least on the horizon. Whether you're looking forward to Valentines Day, or avoiding it like the plague you can still take great inspiration from all the holiday has to offer!

Perhaps most commonly associated with the day of love, hearts can be used in all sorts of ways to decorate your home. I’ve once again been searching the web for some innovative ways of how we could show our homes some love with heart shaped décor.

Hearts in the hallway

Who says door decoration is only for Christmas?! Dangle these beautiful room tags from your door handle for an instant feminine touch.

Hearts in the kitchen

Ever popular, Emma Bridgewater's wonderfully simple heart designs can add a touch of country character to your kitchen. Combine with pastel colours for the perfect shabby chic look!

Hearts in the garden

Don't stop at just the house! Feel the love in your garden with beautiful lanterns...

...or watch the sun glisten off this innovative wind-spinner.

Hearts in the Lounge

There are many lovely trinkets and artworks that can be used to add subtle touches to your living room. But, if subtle just isn't your style there's also a bolder option for you! Take a look at this heart shaped chair designed by Giovannette. Could this be the ultimate seat for a Valentines Day cuddle?

Hearts in the Bathroom

Hang up your towel on these french inspired bathroom hooks. A very popular trend at the moment, vintage french design can look stunning in your bathroom and create a quaint atmosphere.

Hearts in the Bedroom

Create a natural oasis with this outdoors inspired wicker lantern and be mesmerised by the flickering heart....

If the home spun look is more your thing, why not get creative and make fun heart bunting to stylize your headboard! They're so simple to make!

So, have we managed to inspire you - is there a place for hearts in your home? Remember, incorporating Valentines inspiration isn't limited to heart shaped decor. Check back next week for more holiday inspired design tips!